Annular Eclipse: The Ring of Fire in the Sky

An annular eclipse happens when the Moon covers the Sun but appears slightly too small to block it completely.
This creates a glowing “ring of fire” around the Moon’s silhouette.
It occurs because the Moon’s orbit is elliptical, and it’s farther from Earth during the event.
Unlike a total eclipse, the Sun’s bright edge remains visible throughout.
The sky darkens somewhat, but it never becomes fully night-like.
Annular eclipses can last much longer than total eclipses, up to 12 minutes.
Safe viewing with eclipse glasses or filters is essential at all times.
They are rarer than partial eclipses but more common than total eclipses.
Ancient observers often described them as fiery halos or celestial crowns.
Annular eclipses are among the most visually striking cosmic spectacles visible from Earth.